Do-it-yourself repair of a camping gas burner with piezo ignition: common breakdowns and their elimination
If you have ever used a portable burner with piezo ignition, then you have probably encountered the problem of such a device breaking down. Agree, it would be somewhat inappropriate to throw away an almost new burner due to a malfunction that you can fix yourself.
In order not to spend “extra” money on repairs, for which the technician will demand the cost of the device, you should figure out how to repair a gas burner with piezo ignition with your own hands, and not spend a penny from the family budget.
A gas burner can stop working for completely different reasons, ranging from water or dirt getting inside the mechanism, and ending with a breakdown of the piezo ignition itself. Further in the article, you will become familiar with the main causes of burner malfunction, and learn how to disassemble the mechanism yourself and repair it without the help of an experienced technician.
The content of the article:
Using a gas burner with piezo ignition
The classic burner with piezo ignition is especially popular among tourists who willingly use such a simple device as an alternative to a fire.
With its help, you can quickly boil water or cook food, and unlike a fire, the device allows you to regulate the strength of the flame, and at the same time, control gas consumption.In addition, modern portable burners are equipped with a windproof function, a holder for utensils and other “devices”.
This type of burner with piezo ignition is also actively used in dachas where there is no need bring gas into the house. The device will greatly simplify your task of cooking, for which even a small gas canister will be enough for you. In addition, gas burners are often used for soldering and heating metal parts.
The popularity of burners with piezo ignition is quite justified, since the user does not have to worry about the presence of matches, but only until the device breaks. It is the presence of piezo ignition - an additionally inserted element that produces a spark - that often causes the problem of frequent breakdowns of the gas burner.
Diagnostics of a gas burner with piezo ignition
Often the reason for the malfunction of such a device lies in the breakdown of the piezoelectric element, after replacing which the burner works again without any problems.
However, in some cases, the operation of the device can be restored by simply cleaning the nozzle or sprayer, which can become clogged from time to time, as a result of which the gas in the burner simply does not ignite.
The cost of repairing a gas burner with piezo ignition can be equal to the cost of a new device, so there is no more profitable option than fixing it yourself.To identify the cause of the breakdown, you will need to carry out diagnostics. gas burner, during which you can understand why it stopped working.
When disassembling the burner, special attention should be paid to whether a spark appears when you press the button. The presence of a spark indicates the serviceability of the piezoelectric element, which means that the cause of the device failure lies in the contamination of individual parts of the burner.
If, even though there is a spark, the burner still does not ignite, then most likely the problem is that dirt has gotten inside the atomizer - a small hole through which gas enters.
Often, a gas burner can leak gas into a can, which indicates wear of one of the rubber gaskets inside the device. Also, the device may not work due to contamination of the mesh on the back of the sprayer. In this case, it is recommended to wash this element with alcohol or gasoline.
If the piezoelectric element is in good condition, a spark will be supplied, but due to oxidation of the wire through which it is supplied, the gas may not be ignited. If the wire insulation has melted, then you will need to clean it with a file or sandpaper, and, in general, the problem will be solved.
It is important to understand that the absence of a spark means only one thing - the piezoelectric element has failed, which means it requires urgent replacement. You can do this yourself, relying on simple instructions, and you don’t even have to look for a long time for a new piece.
Instructions for replacing the piezoelectric element
Despite the external differences of many burners, everything inside is arranged according to the same principle, and all parts have standard sizes, which makes it easy to choose a replacement for a broken element. Since the piezoelectric element is the most vulnerable part of the device, it is not at all surprising that in most cases it is its breakdown that causes the entire burner to stop working.
The piezoelectric element can fail either as a result of a strong impact or as a result of water or any other liquid entering the burner. To replace the piezo element, you will need to prepare all the necessary bits for the screwdriver, a new lighter from which the new piezo element will be removed, as well as heat shrink to connect the two wires.
First of all, you should make sure that the piezo is malfunctioning, which you will be “notified” by the absence of a spark when you press the button. Next, we disassemble the burner body using a screwdriver and the corresponding bits, which are included in any set of attachments. At the same time, we check all burner parts for contamination and, if necessary, clean them.
Having reached the piezoelectric element, using wire cutters we cut the wire connecting the piezoelectric element to the burner, and thus remove the broken piezoelectric element.
Using the same principle, we remove a working piezoelectric element from a new lighter, leaving a supply of wire for further connection with the burner wire. To do this, we use a small heat shrink, which will need to be heated with a lighter.
Next, we assemble the gas burner in the same way as we disassembled it, after which we test it. If the correct sequence of actions is performed, the operation of the device will be completely restored, which means you will not have to buy a new burner.
We also recommend reading our other article, where we described in detail how refill the gas canister with your own hands.
Other gas burner malfunctions
Breakage of the piezoelectric element is a fairly common problem, but far from the main one. As a result of frequent use of the device, other interruptions in its operation may occur, but the piezo ignition function will be fully operational.
To understand the cause of the malfunction of the gas burner, you will need to completely disassemble it and inspect each part of the structure.
Often the burner does not ignite due to contamination of the nozzle, which occurs as a result of filling the cylinder with low-quality gas. That is, the gas simply does not enter the burner, which is why it does not ignite. In this case, you can clean the nozzle in several ways, which you will learn about later in the article.
Another reason for the gas burner to stop working is the ring falling out inside the nozzle, as a result of which the spark will not fly to the ring, but in different directions, which means that ignition will not occur. If the ring is lost during operation, then the only correct solution would be to make a replacement, for example, from simple copper wire.
Nozzle contamination - how to eliminate it?
The gas burner nozzle may become clogged due to the presence of dirt impurities in the regular gas that we use to refill the can.
To clean the nozzle - a small hole on the burner, it is quite difficult to find a suitable wire or needle, which means that it will not be possible to mechanically clean the nozzle.
If you can find a wire thin enough to clean such a small hole, you can quickly remove the contamination.
Professional craftsmen recommend cleaning the burner nozzle in the following ways:
- Blow the trash back out. Remove the nozzle and firmly press it with the side with the hole against the valve of the gas cylinder. If the contamination is not serious, then it is likely that under gas pressure the dirt can be blown back out.
- Clear the blockage by heating the nozzle. We attach a strong wire to the removed nozzle, and using a second gas burner, heat it red-hot, and then lower the element into the water. The method is quite radical, since heating the part can lead to its destruction.
In this case, it would be more advisable to resort to mechanical cleaning of the nozzle. The ideal option is to choose a wire of a suitable diameter, preferably with a pointed end. This is the easiest and safest way to eliminate contamination without damaging the structure.
How to replace the nozzle ring?
As a result of prolonged use of the burner, the ring heats up at high temperatures, and after some time it simply falls out.
So as not to look for a suitable ring, and especially not to spend money on buying new burner, you can make a homemade replacement for such a ring.
Let's take a wire with a cross-section of 2.5 mm and bend a ring of the required diameter, having previously separated the required piece of material. As for the material, in this case it is recommended to use copper wire, although the original material of the ring is brass.
Making a brass ring will cost you more than buying a new burner, so the best option is a homemade copper ring.
There is only one way to distinguish this breakdown from a clogged nozzle - try to light the burner with matches. If the burner ignites, it means that the problem is not in the nozzle being dirty, in which gas does not enter the burner at all, and accordingly, it is impossible to light it.
How to avoid burner failure?
Since the most common reason for a gas burner with piezo ignition to stop working is the breakdown of its most important element - the piezo, it is important to take care of its safety.
Do not damage the device or allow water to get inside the burner, especially if you are going camping. At best, you will have to light the gas burner with matches, unless you remember to take them with you.
Even if the piezoelectric element is damaged in some way, you should not be upset, because today there are many autonomous piezoelectric ignition devices on sale.That is, it is the same piece, only portable.
So, you don’t have to unscrew the gas burner every time to put on a new piezo ignition, and such a portable piezo ignition will definitely come in handy not only outdoors, but also at home.
Do not forget that the cause of the malfunction may be simple contamination of the nozzle or a slipped ring, therefore, to identify the cause of the breakdown, it is important to conduct a thorough diagnosis of the device. If the piezo is working properly, you just need to try to ignite the burner to understand which part caused the burner to malfunction.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The reasons for the breakdown of a gas burner with piezo ignition are described in more detail in this video:
A visual process of replacing the piezoelectric element of a gas burner is presented in the following video:
The breakdown of a gas burner with piezo ignition becomes a real problem if you go camping, and this device is the only source of fire for heating water and cooking. In this case, you should play it safe and take matches with you, since malfunction of the piezoelectric element in such burners is not uncommon.
If you have previously had to repair a gas burner yourself, please tell us what caused the device to break down and what difficulties you encountered during the repair process. Immediately after the article, you can leave a comment in which you can share your experience of independently repairing a burner with piezo ignition.
And if the insulation of the piezo ignition wire melts at the end, what should I use to replace it? You need something heat resistant to last a long time.
To make it last for a long time, I use heat shrink; it’s been working well for me for a year now.
I repaired everything from the piezoelectric element to the clogged nozzle and pressed the ring and changed the bolts on the ring clamp. And one of the tips helps a lot if the nozzle is clogged, so good advice!!!
Allows gas to pass through the gas supply regulator. I disassembled the regulator with two rubber rings on it. Apparently the rubber bands are rubbish. So far I have not found anything suitable for replacement
If 2 rubber sealing rings on the gas supply regulator were of poor quality or worn, I selected heat shrink according to the diameter, put it on top of the rubber bands and burned it with a lighter. For smooth operation, I also lubricated the heat shrink on top with oil. It doesn’t let through for a while, the burner works. If the heat shrink wears out, it can always be replaced without problems.
Everything that is written is elementary, but to repair the green kovica burner... gas etching under the collet mount... that's the problem
Tell us how and with what to solder the piezoelectric element wire with the wire for supplying a spark to the nozzle for igniting the burner.